Indian Music - Indian music is based on traditional airs that are religious in origin. The Vedic chant that came from sacred literature of Arians that was written in 100 B.C. consists of four books known as Vedas believed to be created by the goddess of knowledge. This is accompanied with string instruments and drums. At times, dances and appropriate movements are used to depict the meaning of the text. They believe that these have the power to melt stones, create fire, rain and cure sick. Giving emphasis to the mood of particular period of time is the goal of music.

Indian Classical Music The music of India can be divided into two unique traditions, the Karnatic (folk) and the Hindustani Vedic (religious). The Hindustani tradition which dominates the northern half of the Indian subcontinent largely developed in the courts of the major centers for Indian music such as Delhi, Lucknow, Benares, Calcutta, Varanasi and Farrukhabad. This tradition has been heavily influenced by Aryan peoples from the middle east and neighboring countries such as Pakistan and Afghanistan. The Karnatic tradition with its main musical center located in Chennai (previously named Madras) can be found in the southern part of the country. It is considered by many to be a more pure form of Indian music with less influence from the migrating peoples the north, however it has integrated many European musical concepts and instruments into its practice largely due to the British occupation of India for over 100 years.
Elements of Indian Music Tala , Roga , Drone
Is known to be the rhythmic time cycle of Indianmusic. It is composed of long and short beats that areaccented and unaccented. It is characterized by thesam , the first beat of Tala. Khali is the empty beat andTali is the accented beat. The shortest kind of tala iscalled Dadra, which has 6 beats, while the Tintal has16 beats. To execute the tala, the percussionist taps thedrum on the beat where the number is marked X.Then he claps his hands on the other unmarked beatsand waves his hand only on the beat marked O tosuggest silence.
Raga - A raga is an aesthetic melodic form withpeculiar ascending and descending movement. It isbased on a scale of five to seven notes.